Well, I just hate to spoil all the summer suspense, but here’s the 49ers’ 53-man roster projection: QB (2): Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert Cut: Dylan Thompson Thompson, a rookie free agent, is obviously a strong candidate for the practice squad given the skimpy depth chart at this position. The 49ers didn’t use one of their …

If 49ers long snapper Brian Jennings plays in his 13th straight full season in 2012, he will tie the franchise record for consecutive games played with 208.
There is, however, a potential stumbling block to Jennings tying offensive lineman Len Rohde in… …

Jacobs, who currently weighs 267, believes his weight has detracted from his game. As a result, he plans to lose about 10 pounds in preparation for the season – getting under 260 for the first time since 2002. …

What do you get your team’s eldest statesman who is a model of consistency and is coming off the second Pro Bowl appearance of his career? If you’re the 49ers, you give that guy a reason to sweat for his job. …

The question begs to be asked: What’s a nice running back like Jewel Hampton doing in a place like San Francisco? Hampton, after all, was a well-regarded undrafted free agent whose post-draft suitors included the Colts, Buccaneers and Eagles. …

Jim Harbaugh wasn’t at last year’s Indianapolis 500, but his words were with Panther Racing CEO John Barnes, whose team endured one of the most devastating near-misses in motor-sports history.
Entering the final turn, Panther’s driver, Sausalito’s J.R…. …

Oakland’s Oracle Arena has 72 luxury suites, gourmet food options, transit and freeway access, and 19,000 seats with decent sightlines in a building whose interior was gutted and rebuilt in 1997. “It’s a perfectly good facility; I would say it’s in the… …

Hildebrand, 24, a Sausalito native, is a lifelong 49ers fan who drives for Panther Racing, a 15-year-old IRL team that counts Jim Harbaugh as a founding partner and one of five current co-owners. Hildebrand drives the No. 4 car, Harbaugh’s jersey number for most of his 15-year NFL career. …

In his 12-year, Hall-of-Fame career, Troy Aikman never threw for more than 3,500 yards or had more than 23 passing touchdowns. Aikman also never invoked Dan Marino or Jim Kelly — his more statistically accomplished but title-less peers — when noting his modest numbers didn’t prevent him from winning three Super Bowls …

At the suggestion of a friend, Jonathan Goodwin added boxing to his offseason routine, alternating quick bursts of pounding his fists into a trainer’s mitts with other short sets of exercise. The 49ers’ center also played some kickball with his wife i… …

In the offseason, the 49ers have picked up a pass-catching trio that includes a future Hall of Famer (Randy Moss), a Super Bowl hero (Mario Manningham) and a first-round draft pick (A.J. Jenkins).
Wednesday, Alex Smith said the new additions were akin … …

At 6:35 p.m. Thursday, Panthers Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason fired back at Alex Smith, who a day earlier had used Carolina quarterback Cam Newton to illustrate his belief that passing yards were a misleading stat. …

During that stretch, Crabtree had more receptions than Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe and then-Dolphins wideout Brandon Marshall had in their final 11 games. He also had more yards than Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace and as many touchdowns as New England’s Wes Welker. …

The 49ers signed punter Andy Lee to a six-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep the three-time All-Pro in San Francisco through the 2018 season.
Already regarded among the NFL’s elite, Lee had one of the best seasons by a punter in league hi… …

“I could absolutely care less on yards per game,” Smith said. “I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you’re losing games in the second half, guess what, you’re like the Carolina Panthers and you’re going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That’s great. You’re not winning, though.” …